The Great Patriotic War Flashcards
Timing of Operation Barbarossa
Originally planned for June but delayed three weeks due to crisis in Yugoslavia, shortened time before winter.
Form and aims of Operation Barbarossa
Three army groups entered 22nd June 1941 through the Baltic States towards Leningrad, Ukraine, and centrally into Moscow. Aimed to take control of Soviet economy and eradicate communism as well as a military victory.
State of the Soviet Army
Greatly weakened by purges, the ‘Winter War’, and 1939 war against Japan.
Stalin’s reaction to Operation barbarossa
Lost his nerve, two weeks until making a radio broadcast, when he did change in tone as now appealed to patriotism and religion and unity, set tone for war propaganda.
Stalin’s errors at the beginning of war
Lost his nerve and didn’t provide strong leadership, relied on inferior commanders who had been promoted for political reasons, caused major defeat in September 1941 by not allowing troops to retreat.
Stalin’s war cabinet
After rocky start Stavka became effective mechanism, had key generals such as Zhukov as well as politicians like Molotov, second to the supreme political war cabinet, the GKO.
Key reasons for Russia not falling
Size of Russia, huge population, vast distances, severity of Russian winter. patriotism of Soviet people, learnt from mistakes early on. Had a ‘master spy’ Richard Sorge who gave information on intentions of Japan to attack USA so Stalin could afford to bolster his Western troops and avoid a two-front war.
Summarise the key stages of the war
June 1941 to summer 1942: Soviets struggle and suffer massive losses.
1942 to summer 1943: war effort stabilised and economy developed.
1943 to summer 1945: offensive, achieved total victory.
Speed of German advance
Hitler’s tactic to go fast, huge armies defeated e.g. near Kiev 665 000 troops captured, after two weeks looked like they had won, September Leningrad encircled and siege began, plans put in for Operation Typhoon to take Moscow, got within 20km put pushed back under Zhukov.
Early peace negotiations
Stalin ordered secret negotiations with Germany late 1941 although nothing came of it, Hitler thought he would win anyway, the offer remained a secret until the fall of the USSR.
The siege of Leningrad
From September 1941 to January 1944, 3 million citizens and 200 000 Red Army soldiers in the city, anti-tank ditches built, munitions factories still worked, bread ration dropped to 125g per day, over 800 000 died throughout siege.
1942 German offensives
Push into Caucasus oilfields called Case Blue, took the Rostov on the Don, low point, side-tracked as forces diverted to take Stalingrad.
The Battle of Stalingrad
German diverted troops, some of worst hand-to-hand fighting and Germans took 80% of the city, Zhukov come up with Operation Uranus, aiming for weaker flanks, Germans ordered to stay and surrender after massive losses of around 200 000, one of the major turning points in the war.
Operation Citadel
German offensive into Kursk July 1943, Germans massed 900 000 troops and many tanks, USSR know of plans, mines laid in front of positions, despite some pushback Russian counter attacks destroyed 40% of remaining tanks, Germans lost 2900 tanks, could not compete against Russian T-34 tanks because it was durable and easy to repair, Hitler called off offensive, but Russian victory clear cut now.
First conference of the Big Three
November 1943 met at Tehran, despite victory being far off, but the road to Berlin was open.
